Gabriella Ybarra

San Antonio

Courthouse Reporter at The San Antonio Express-News

courthouse reporter @expressnews • previously @kut/@texasstandard • TXST & UT grad • phoebe bridgers stan • send scoops and snoopy pics

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Articles

Trial for man accused of killing neighbor over dispute ends in mistrial

6 days ago | expressnews.com | Gabriella Ybarra

After six hours of deliberations a Bexar County jury failed to produce a verdict in a trial for a man accused of killing his neighbor over a dispute. David John Grejtak, 56, is accused of killing Lydia Morales, 44, on September 12, 2023. If convicted, he would have faced up to life in prison. During opening statements, prosecutor Jonathan Alvarado said the shooting was the result of a feud between Grejtak and Morales' family.
SAPD ordered to hand over investigative evidence in Melissa Perez case

1 week ago | expressnews.com | Gabriella Ybarra

A local judge has ruled that the San Antonio Police Department must hand over an exhaustive list of investigative information to the defense attorneys representing the three police officers accused of killing a San Antonio woman while on duty. The decision is a setback for the state. During a hearing on Wednesday, Judge Ron Rangel granted the defense attorneys' Brady request, which prosecutors Daryl Harris and David Lunan had fought against.
DNA evidence exonerates San Antonio man convicted of Walmart robbery

1 week ago | expressnews.com | Gabriella Ybarra

A San Antonio man has been exonerated after being wrongfully convicted of aggravated robbery in 2017. Travis Cobb was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2018 for aggravated robbery. On Tuesday, a hearing was held in the 399th District Court to exonerate Cobb of his conviction. The Bexar County District Attorney's Office said "rare DNA testing" helped clear Cobb's name, reversing what it calls a case of mistaken identity.
Man gets prison for fatal stabbing homeless man at bus stop

1 week ago | expressnews.com | Gabriella Ybarra

A Bexar County judge has sentenced a man for fatally stabbing a 24-year-old homeless man at a San Antonio bus stop last year. Austin Damian Diaz, 27, was sentenced to 35 years in prison by state District Judge Joel Perez during a plea hearing on Monday. Perez found Diaz guilty of stabbing Frank Hernandez to death at a bus stop on May 6, 2024. Hernandez was homeless at the time of his death, officials said.
Bexar County detention officer charged with murder after death of inmate

1 week ago | expressnews.com | Gabriella Ybarra

A Bexar County detention officer has been charged with murder in connection with the death of a 46-year-old inmate. Clemente Lopez Jr., 20, was arrested by Texas Rangers Friday in the death of inmate Francisco Bazan, who was found unresponsive in his cell on Wednesday. A deputy performed life-saving measures on Bazan and called in a "Code 1" to get additional medical assistance. Jail medical staff arrived at the unit and took over efforts to revive Bazan, even giving him Narcan.
Sand plant worker killed during mudslide in Atascosa County

1 week ago | expressnews.com | Gabriella Ybarra

A sand plant worker was killed Thursday after he was buried by a mudslide while working in a deep sand pit, according to a News4 report. The incident happened around 9:30 a.m. at the Signal Peak Silica plant in Poteet, about 20 miles south of San Antonio. According to the news station, the worker was operating heavy equipment at the bottom of the sand pit when he was hit by the mudslide. The mudslide caused the equipment to turn over and the pit filled up with sand and mud.
Man fatally shot in the head by security guard during bar fight

1 week ago | expressnews.com | Gabriella Ybarra

A man was killed after he was shot in the head by a security guard during a bar fight on San Antonio's West Side. The shooting happened early Friday around 2 a.m. at a bar in the 9200 block of Potranco Road. San Antonio police said a 33-year-old man and his friends were involved in a fight with another group. At some point, the man's friends went back to their vehicles to retrieve their firearms, police said.
Families of Savannah Soto, Matthew Guerra file $1 million lawsuit

2 weeks ago | expressnews.com | Gabriella Ybarra

The families of Savannah Soto and Matthew Guerra are seeking more than $1 million in damages for the death of the couple and their unborn child. Gabriel Guerra, the father of Matthew Guerra, and Gloria Cordova, the mother of Savannah Soto, filed a civil lawsuit in late March against Christopher Preciado; his father, Ramon Preciado; and his stepmother, Myrta Romanos. Christopher Preciado is accused of fatally shooting Savannah Soto, 18, Matthew Guerra, 22, and their unborn child, Fabian.
Judge needs more time to rule on whether to throw out Brad Simpson's case

3 weeks ago | expressnews.com | Gabriella Ybarra

A local judge has stalled his decision on whether to throw out Brad Simpson's indictment, which alleges he killed his wife, Olmos Park realtor, Suzanne Simpson. The goal of the motion to quash, which was filed by Brad Simpson's defense attorney, is to have the judge declare the indictment against Brad Simpson invalid, preventing him from standing trial for the charges. The motion was argued before State district Judge Joel Perez during a hearing on Tuesday.
SAPD officer suspended, accused of slashing items owned by homeless people

3 weeks ago | expressnews.com | Gabriella Ybarra

A San Antonio police officer has been suspended for slashing the tires of a bike and trailer belonging to two homeless people living in a West Side ditch. Officer Kenneth Cortez was suspended by the department for 30 days, according to police disciplinary records. Cortez, who began his suspension in March, is expected to return to work on April 26. The records state that on Oct.